Originally Posted by Xtreme87

I think the fact that it's an expectation is what pi$$es me off the most. I don't mind helping, but when I have to watch stupid videos and get talked to like a little child, I immediately lose all motivation to go beyond my job requirements. I crossed seat belts and helped clean up at my last job once in a while, if I had a spare minute or 2, never bothered me.

Originally Posted by hyperboy

I don't think I am better than everyone one else and I do my job. I also choose to HELP when I can. I'm a team player. I did way worse jobs in the Navy so not sure what is beneath me. I also don't worry about who helps and who does not......Why does everyone care so much. Let's worry about real things that will affect our JetBlue Careers and our contract....like volunteering for a ALPA committee it seems as though plenty on this board have plenty of extra time....

Here is perspective.....

Making the rounds this Independence Day is a piece from a few years back titled “A Janitor’s Ten Lessons in Leadership” by James Moschgat, a retired Air Force colonel.
William “Bill” Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor.
While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory.
Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties.
[…]
That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a book about World War II and the tough Allied ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story. On Sept. 13, 1943, a Private William Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on Hill 424 near Altavilla, Italy.
The words on the page leapt out at me: “in the face of intense and overwhelming hostile fire … with no regard for personal safety … on his own initiative, Private Crawford single-handedly attacked fortified enemy positions.” It continued, “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, the President of the United States …”
“Holy cow,” I said to my roommate, “you’re not going to believe this, but I think our janitor is a Medal of Honor winner.” We all knew Mr. Crawford was a WWII Army vet, but that didn’t keep my friend from looking at me as if I was some sort of alien being. Nonetheless, we couldn’t wait to ask Bill about the story on Monday.
We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the page in question from the book, anticipation and doubt on our faces. He starred at it for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something like, “Yep, that’s me.” Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the book, and quickly back at our janitor. Almost at once we both stuttered, “Why didn’t you ever tell us about it?” He slowly replied after some thought, “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.” I guess we were all at a loss for words after that. We had to hurry off to class and Bill, well, he had chores to attend to.
Reflecting back on this experience decades later, Moschgat distilled, as you might have guessed, ten leadership lessons. Among them: be cautious of labels, everyone deserves respect, and no job is beneath a leader.
Doing a bit more “research” on Crawford, I found that there was a little more to the story. First off, he wasn’t simply extraordinarily brave for “one day . . . a long time ago.” Aside from having been a Golden Gloves champion before the war, his military exploits didn’t end that day:
After the battle, Crawford later was captured by the Germans and was presumed dead. In 1945, the Medal of Honor was presented to his father, but later that year, Crawford was found alive when a group of soldiers were rescued from German control. Crawford re-enlisted in 1947 and retired in ’67 as a master sergeant.
So, not only was he a hero for reasons on his Medal of Honor citation but he went on to endure eighteen months as a prisoner of war and then went on to serve out a full career as a non-commissioned officer. That makes his humility, less than a decade after hanging up the uniform, all the more remarkable.
Additionally, it seems that Moschgat’s cohort at USAFA wasn’t the last to recognize MSG Crawford’s contributions.
Years later, in 1984, the commencement speaker at the Academy was President Ronald Reagan. Looking over the sea of young faces that represented the very best our nation has to offer, he said: “America’s men and women of today have made us a great nation.” And then the president turned his attention to the past, calling forward a 66-year-old janitor crisply dressed in a uniform that still fit his trim frame. Forty years after his heroism at Altavilla, Italy and 17 years after his retirement from a military career, the president hung the Medal of Honor around the janitor’s neck.
The cadets themselves, had decided proper recognition of their janitor was long overdue, and had taken steps to see an “oversight” corrected.

Originally Posted by BeatNavy

Cool story. I'm sure the USAFA janitor department is hiring if that's your thing. BTW, being a janitor isn't beneath me. I've done worse jobs (and even been used as a janitor) in the military. But I'll only be a janitor if I sign up for it like MSG Crawford did. I signed up to be a professional pilot. I get paid to be a professional pilot. Not a professional janitor. Dr. Smith doesn't clean the operating room to do a blue turn for the next operation. He has other doctor things to do. Just like I have other pilot things to do.

Originally Posted by Southerner

It's a requirement only if you use the pass travel benefits. It isn't an expectation or requirement if you're on duty. I do not think it is unreasonable to have requirements in exchange for riding for free. Additionally, it isn't a pilot only requirement. Anyone traveling for free has to help clean.

You don't have to use your pass travel benefits. You can buy a ticket, and not have to clean. It's purely your choice.

Originally Posted by Xtreme87

Naa, I'll just jumpseat on any other carrier, get a shot at a free seat in business class, not pay $75 or whatever dollars, and not be expected to clean the cabin.

Originally Posted by Southerner

Again, read the FOM. You aren't required or expected to clean while on duty. That requirement only exists when using pass travel privileges.

Originally Posted by BeatNavy

I never said it did. I countered hypers post that used glorification of a janitor as justification for being a janitor while being a pilot. What other airline requires nonrevs to clean? What other airline makes you watch a ridiculous nonrev training video (unpaid), when all the passrider guidance is in a neat little manual? What other airline requires a $75 payment to sit in first? Cleaning on or off duty should not ever be expected of a professional pilot. If a pilot wants to help out, after pax are off, whatever. But there should be zero expectations or requirements, on or off duty. Especially when it involves a commute to work. That is part of the job.



And where do you draw the line? Should you clean the hallways in the terminal? Clean the bathrooms? It's no different. It's free labor so they don't have to hire the appropriate number of people for that job.

Originally Posted by Southerner

Again, read the FOM. You aren't required or expected to clean while on duty. That requirement only exists when using pass travel privileges.

Originally Posted by Southerner

Commuting is not part of the job. That's your choice. If you don't want to clean, move to a base and buy tickets/zed fares when you travel.

United and American charged money for first class at one time. I'm not sure if they do anymore. Delta had an annual pass travel fee for my regional that was around $200 a year give or take ($50 per traveler on your passes, if memory serves, but that may be different now.)

My point is, all carriers have requirements. Ours may be different than others, but nevertheless it's the requirement. You aren't being forced to use non-rev travel.

Why is this an issue for you when there are actual issues that need to be resolved in our contract?

Originally Posted by slimothy

Which is why I'd rather use my travel privileges on ANY other airline, since we are the ONLY carrier with this requirement.